Kerala   

Kerala plans to woo Arab tourists

DUBAI, SEPT. 12. `God's Own Country', Kerala has drawn comprehensive and integrated plans to attract the rich Sheikhs of the Arab peninsula to the scenic locales and idyllic backwaters in the State.

``Arab tourists are looking for alternative destinations after 9/11 and Indian destinations, particularly those in Kerala, have good potential to attract them,'' T.O. Sooraj, Director, Department of Tourism, Kerala said.

More restaurants and eateries with Arab cuisine, entertainment parks for children and shopping centres catering to Arab tastes are being planned in the State, Mr. Sooraj said on the sidelines of the Indian Hoteliers Convention here.

``We have on board an edutainment park for children at Tripunithura in Kochi and a dream city in Kozhikode. Both have been planned for amusement of children as the thrust of our policy is to attract more Arab families,'' he said.

``India got only less than one per cent of world tourist arrivals but Kerala's share in that was 11 per cent in 2003 marking an increase of 26 per cent over the previous year,'' Mr. Sooraj said.

He said Kerala would try to improve air connectivity with the Gulf and budget airlines like Air Arabia would greatly increase tourist traffic from the region to Kerala.

``As Dubai is already a tourist hub, we will try to include Kerala also in the travel plans of tourists coming here,'' Mr. Sooraj said. — PTI

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

• Health system project faces hurdles
• `Government for settling all education issues'
• Tough tasks ahead for Thiruvanchoor
• `Tourism projects will be completed in a time-bound manner'
• UDF headed for deeper crisis: CPI
• Transfer of doctors will be made more transparent: Minister
• `I' group splits in Kollam, Kadavoor forms new faction
• Kochi shipyard to begin production of warships
• Council plea on law officers' appointment
• IMA to develop mechanism to screen complaints
• Chandy joins issue with VS
• Kerala plans to woo Arab tourists
• First phase of my political career over, says Antony
• RSP(B) splits in Ernakulam
• Briefly

Copyright © 2004, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu